Asthma inhalers that contain corticosteroid drugs could play a role in suppressing a child's growth, based on the analysis of 25 previous scientific studies conducted on the issue. Health experts from the University of Montreal and the Federal University of Rio Grande in Brazil conducted the research.
In their review of over 8,000 children who possessed frequent asthma symptoms, the experts found evidence that corticosteroids could play some sort of role in stunting growth. The children studied were either prescribed inhaler medications that contained corticosteroids, nonsteroidal medications, or a placebo. Asthma medications that contain steroids are prescribed are the primary treatment for adults and children with persistent asthma.
The researchers conducted two systematic reviews of the published studies. In the first report, they analyzed all 25 studies that comprised of 8,400 children up to 18 years of age who had mild to moderate persistent asthma. Those who were not prescribed medications containing steroids or given a placebo grew between 2.4 to 3.5 inches per year in comparison to the 0.2 inches for those who were prescribed corticosterioids in their medications. They found the effect on growth was strongest in the first year of treatment.
In the second report, the researchers analyzed 22 studies of children who were prescribed low and medium doses of inhalable steroids. Compared to those who were prescribed higher doses, these children averaged about 0.1 more inches of growth each year. However, these studies were small and only three trials followed 728 children for a year or more.
"These studies confirm what many have suspected, that inhaled steroids can suppress growth in children," said Jon Ayres, a professor of environmental and respiratory medicine at Britain's Birmingham University, in this Fox News article. "However, the effect seems... small and non-cumulative and many may consider this a risk worth taking compared to the alternative, which is poorly controlled and therefore potentially life threatening asthma."
The researchers suggest, however, that children who have persistent asthma take the minimal effective dose (if prescribed corticosteroidal medication) until further data becomes available on this subject. They believe their consistent findings could yield more results with further research. The study, "Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: dose-response effects on growth," was published on Thursday in The Cochrane Library journal.
You can read more about the research in this Live Science article.
